Word Origin & History

mid-14c., from Old English Zefferus, from Latin Zephyrus, from Greek Zephyros "the west wind" (sometimes personified as a god), probably related to zophos "the west, the dark region, darkness, gloom." Sense of "mild breeze" is c.1600.

Example Sentences for zephyr

Here no zephyr of the sea Wipes the tears from skies that fill.

Then the wind blew in a changed spirit, and died away to a zephyr.

From the zephyr to the tempest, the whole scale is equally at his command.

The rustle of His wing is in every zephyr; its might is in every tempest.

This last drawing reduces the roll to about the thickness of zephyr yarn.

As the Zephyr shot past him, a long, loud cheer burst from her crew.

"I suppose they got sick of it when they saw the Zephyr," suggested Fred Harper.

"In imitation of the Zephyr," said Frank, laughing heartily.

The bow of the Zephyr was swung round so that Tony could get in.

The Zephyr was rapidly approaching the Sylph, as the sailboat was called.